UDP Protesters Enter BTL Compound 

Just as they had committed, protesters gathered outside of the Belize Telemedia Limited’s compound on St Thomas Street, Belize City, entered the compound shortly after 10 a.m. today.

Opposition Leader Tracy Panton also arrived and addressed reporters on the ground. During an interview, Panton confirmed she was aware that BTL’s board meeting, expected today, had been postponed.

Reports are that the meeting was expected to consider provisional approval for the deal

Panton stated that the protest was still necessary to send a clear message. She said, “We had to let them know that we are serious when we say ‘no to corruption.’ This Briceno administration will go down as the most corrupt.”

She added that the UDP is prepared to support any party supporter who is charged as a result of the protest. “We got their back,” she added.

Panton said public action against the proposed acquisition was “absolutely necessary,” adding, “If it wasn’t, when we met with the Ashcroft Alliance and when we met with the BTL board, they would have sat down and have a meaningful account with us, but that was not their intention.”

“They need to push this deal through, by any means necessary,” she said.

Panton said the UDP will “stay the course” in opposing the deal. “This BTL acquisition of SMART is a bad deal for Belize, and we cannot saddle the Belizean people with any more money,” she said.

The unions, including the National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB) and the Belize National Teacher’s Union (BNTU), have also arrived at the protest site.